Apparatus for assembling adjustable shoulder straps



Dec. 15, 1942,

R STRAPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI A ORN Dec. 15, 1942. A. MENDELSOHN APPARATUS FOR AS'SEM'BLING ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER 'STRVAPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1940 "INVENTOR I A ORNEY U Mu ww SN NW mm Q Q g Patented Dec. 15, 1942 r ce APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ADJUSTABLE SHOULDERYSTBAPS Aaron Mende'lsohn, Brooklyn, N. Y. App ication March 16, 194 0, SerialNo. 324,447

11 Claims. (o1. 2-23-49) The present invention relates to apparatus for assembling adjustable shoulder straps, of the type used for ladies undergarments, which generally consist of a combination of buckles and tape or ribbon strap members.

It is the object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character described having improved buckle supply vand buckle feeding mechanisms whereby the feeding of'the buckles to strap receiving position is made smoother-and more certain. r

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the character described having buckle feeding mechanisms of improved construction and operation.

Still another object of the present invention is v to provide buckle guiding and feeding mechanisms which will arrange and keep-the buckle in accurate register with the path of the strap inserting blades to thereby prevent the striking of the buckle frame by the blades.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the character described that may be used to assemble straps with pronged buckles of the type that engage the end of a strap and make unnecessary'the stitching of the long strap member on the buckle.

A further object is to provide apparatus which makes possible the insertion and maintenance of the shorter strap in its associated buckle and keeping its ends together without any pre-stitching, until the same are sewn to a garment.

It is a still further object to provide apparatus of the character described which is of generally improved and simplified construction, which is relatively easier to'operate, requiring relatively less operating power, and which is sturdy-durable and economical.

One embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, :11: is to be :understood, however, that the embo imentrs own s by w y of illustration only, to make the principles and practices of the invention more readily comprehensible to those skilled'in the art and it is not intended in any way to limit its spirit or scope to the details of the embodiment shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. '1 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment of the p ar tu of t e pr s t n n i n;

i 21s .a top plan Vi w of the s me;

F 3 is a view of a strap completely ass mbled "by the appar tus hf the prese v n Fig. .4 is a. fragmentary view in side elevation and partly in section of the apparatus. of the present invention Fig, 5 is a fragmentary front end View of the same; showing also a'front view of the means for engaging the ends of one of the strap members during the assembly of the second strap member with the buckles.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentarysectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4;;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view ak on l n 9- of Fi -'6 a d Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of means for engagingthe ends of one ofthe strap members while'the second strap member is-being assembled with the buekles. 20-

I Referringmore specifically and in greater detail to the embodiment of the apparatus of the invention which isillustra-ted in the accompanying drawings, such apparatus comprises a table, including a base I 0, which may be supported upon a w'ork-bench II, and the top '12, upon which is fixedly mounted an elongated rectangular bed plate 13, which may extend a. d overlie the rear edge of the table top l2,

The bed plate I3 is formed with a longitudinally disposed, slightly off-center, shallow buckle guiding channel or groove M, to serve as a guideway or track for the buckle 15, having the single eyelet l6. s

-- The buckles iii are supplied to the channel 14,

from a hopper, designatedgenerally as l1, and

com-prising preferably, a post or standard 18, mounted in upright position on the bed plate I3, to one side thereof and at a distance from its front end. The post or standard I8 is provided with a buckle receiving recess. l9, in one edge, arranged to overlie the channel 14, and to discharge buckles I 5,- which may be stacked within the recess l9, one at a time. directly into-the channel;

- The ho per I1 is providedwith a closure plate 20, having, preferably, an inspection slot 2|, and which is held in place over the recess l 9; by right angle guide members 22, which are fixed on the post l8.

A second hopper, generally designated as 25, is provided at the forward end of the b d plate '3, for s pp y n t e s co d ype i uckle 26, ha g o y lets 21 a d 28. sec nd opp compr s s, a upright post .or standar end of the bed plate I3, flush with the edge'thereof. The standard 29 is provided with a vertically disposed forwardly facing buckle housing recess 3|, so arranged that one of the buckle eyelets such as 21, will be in vertical register with the eyelet l6, of a buckle l5, when the two buckles are in vertical alignment. The second hopper 25 is also preferably provided with a closure member 32, having an inspection slot 33, and held in place by right angle guide members 34, mounted on the standard 29.

The block 30 is provided with a longitudinally disposed buckle guideway, channel or groove 35, in its upper surface, which groove is in register with the recess 3|, to receive buckles therefrom. The rear portion of such channel or groove, 35, is preferably of a width slightly less than the recess 3|, or the buckle 26, contained therein with that part of thefchannel 35 extending forwardly from the rear face of the magazine recess 3|, having offset edges as at 36, to provide a width sufiicient to accommodate a buckle 26 in width and thickness. A rectangular slide bar 31 is disposed within the channel 35, which bar may be formed to have its front end reduced by the thickness of a buckle to provide a shoulder 38, which may engage a buckle resting on the reduced portion of the bar 31, for movement forwardly within the guideway 35.

In order to snugly accommodate the buckles within their respective hopper recesses, regard- 'less of any minor variations in their size, there are provided means such as are illustrated in association with the hopper 25, consisting of plates 39, arranged along the opposed sides of the recess 3|, and resiliently urged toward one another, as by means of wire springs 40, arranged in slots or recesses 4|, formed in the sides of the post or standard 29, or in the face of the block-30, as may be desired, which springs are held in place by screws 42, set into the face of the standard 29. It will be readily understood that a similar arrangement of resiliently pressed plates may be provided in connection with the hopper H.

To present the buckles in operating position, their respective guideways or channels are continued in a plate 43, secured to the forward face of the block 30, by set screws 44; The plate 43 has a cut-out portion 45, along its upper edge in position to permit reciprocation therethrough of the rod 33 and with a second cut-out portion 46, on its lower edge surrounding the end of the channel l4.

Extending forwardly and horizontally from the upper edge of the plate 43, from each side of the cut-out 45, are a pair of spaced parallel bars or fingers 41, separated a distance slightly less than the width of buckle 26, and provided with facing grooves 48, which are in alignment with the surface of the reduced end of the rod 33, and

' which serve as continuation of said surface, forming tracks for the edges of the buckles'26.

A similar set of bars or fingers 49, is provided on the lower edge of the plate 43, one along each side of the cut-out 46; the bars 49, being provided with facing grooves 50, to accommodate and guide the edges of the buckle l5, as it is moved out of the channel l4.

In order to move the buckles |5 to operating position there is arranged within the channel |4,

to the rear of the hopper H, a sliding blade 5|,

held in place by plates 52, resting on the edges of the work plate l3, and partly overhanging the edges of the channel l4. Fixedlymounted adjacent the rear end of the sliding blade 5|, is

a block 53 which is guided intermediate the guide bars 54, arranged above the plates 52.

A pin 55, is set into the base of the block 53, which serves to engage one end of a wire chain or belt 56, which is passed over a pulley 51, set i into the side of the block 39, through an opening 58, in the work bench and under and over pulleys 59 and 69, respectively, the other end of the wire or belt 56, being engaged on a treadle 6|, which is pivoted on a bracket 62 which is fixed on a floor or the like.

It will be apparent that pressure on the treadle will cause movement of the sliding blade 50, forwardly in the groove l4, to engage a buckle l5, and to move it forwardly in the guideway or channel l4, and in the grooves of the fingers, 49.

It will be readily understood that the size and arrangement of parts just described are such that at the end of the stroke of the blade 5|, the buckle |5 will be brought to operating position.

In order to automatically return the blade 59 to its initial position and thus permit a second buckle I5, to drop into the channel M, to be moved in its turn to operating position upon repeated actuation of the treadle, there is set into the channel M, to the rear of the blade 5 a rearwardly extending bar 63, upon which is fixed a pin 64,110 which is anchored one end of a blade returning coil spring 65, the other end of which is secured to the pin 55, arranged on the block 53.

Means may be provided to limit and cushion the return stroke of the blade 5|, which may consist of a U curved leaf spring 61, fixed on a slotted plate 68, alongside the guideway l4, which may be adjustably secured to the bed plate i3, by means of a thumb screw 69, passing through the slot 10, into the bed plate l3; and of a plate or bar 1|, transversely disposed in block 53, the edge of which is adapted to abut against spring 61, to limit rearward movement of the blade 5|.

In order to advance a buckle 26, to operative position, the rod 31, on the reduced portion of which the buckle is deposited, by gravity, is provided in its rear end with an aperture 12, in which is seated and held by a set screw 13, the end of one leg of an L shaped rod or pin 14, the other leg of which extends rearwardly and parallel to the rod 31, avoiding the hopper l1, and is guided and supported in an aperture 15, in the bracket 16, fixed on the work table l3. Adjacent its free end, the L shaped member is provided with a sideways extending pin 11, to which is attached one end of a coil spring 18, the other end being held on a vertical pin 19, set into the work table, which spring 18, normally maintains the rod in retracted position.

The plate 1|, which is fixed on the block 53, is provided with a vertically offset portion 89, on which is fixed, adjustably, by set screw 8|, a slotted member 82, having an offset part 83, which is adapted to engage the free end of the L shaped rod 14 to move it and the rod 31 forwardly in the apparatus, after the slide 5| has been moved a short distance. The delayed start of the moving mechanism for the buckle 26, relative the movement of the blade 5|, makes operation of the apparatus relatively easier for the reason that such movement occurs after momentum has been gathered by the moving mechanisms.

The post 29, is provided with a. pair of spaced brackets extending forwardly from one of its sides, consisting of an upper bracket 85, and a lower bracket 86, each having an offset enlarged head 81, and 88, respectively, which are provided --withvertically aligned; openings 89' and 96,. Irespectively; to receive' and guide a rod or plunger QI. The lower end of the plunger Si is slotted to receive one end of a hook nded blade 92, and

a relatively longer, bluntiended'blade 93, which I are removably and adjustabl-yiheld in place by set screws 94. l l I The plunger QI, is provided along its center portion with a vertically disposed slot .95, through which passes a horizontally'disposed operating pin 96, set in a collar 91, which is adjustably held on the plunger by a set screw 98. The collar E1 is normally maintained against the underside of :the upper bracket'head 81, in position to hold both of the blades 92 and 93, above the upper 'buckleguideway, by means of an expansion spring 1. 99, mounted about th 'plunger SI, intermediate the upper face of the lower bracket head 88, and the underside 'of'the collar 91.

A second pin or screw I00, is set into the lower bracket head 88 and also passes through the slot 95 to limit the upward movement of the plunger 9|.

The plunger-9i is operated by a cable IIH, attached to the sideways extending pin 96 by one "-of its ends, its other end engagingthe free end of a treadle I02, pivoted on the bracket 62.

Ihave found that, in practice, the positioning and aligning of th buckles with the reciprocal 1 blades cannot always be accurately accomplished even with a properly adjusted buckle moving mechanismofor the reason that, frequently, the buckles'are projected, by momentum past the line of movement of the blades or, at other times, =-have a tendency to-be re'tractedf Such occur- 'r'ences result in the damage or spoiling "of the buckle, on occasion atter. part of' theias'sembly has: been accomplished, causinga waste, both of time and money. Frequently, also; the buckles "I'r'n'a'y'become disarranged due to'the manual han- -dling of thestraps partly-passed therethrough wi'tli'the'same detrimental results.

I have therefore devised means for positively receivingv and retaining buckles in properly aligned position. Such means comprises a resilientseat into which the buckle may'be easily moved and from which it may be easily removed, but which prevent accidental movement of the buckles. JSuch seats are-illustrated in Fig. 9, of

- the drawings and may'c'ompris .ap i f prin members IE4, each having a curved portion I65, formed to fit about and seat one side 01'- a buckle. One of such spring members I94 is arranged in a slot or recess I I36, formed in each of the forwardly extending bars or fingers, 41 or 50, as the case may be and is suitably secured by one end, as by a set screw III! to its respective bar or finger.

In operation, the treadle BI is pressed to move buckles I5 and 26 into operative position. A shorter ribbon or band I98 is then placed above the lower buckle I5 and the treadle I02, pressed down to bring the blade 93, through the eye It of the buckle I5, carrying the ribbon It? with it, in a loop. One end of the ribbon is then pulled through the eye I6 and the two ends are thus juxtaposed and engaged by means which will hereinafter be described, out of the way of the further operations. The end of the longer band or ribbon I09 is then placed over the upper buckle 26 and. firmly held by the operator as the treadle I02 is pressed again to pass the band or ribbon I69 through the eye 21 of the buckle 25 and the eye I 6 of the buckle I5. The free end of the A ribbon I539 is then pulled through the eye I6 and is engaged upon the hook end of the blade 92,

which draws itupwardly through the eye 28. of the buckle 26 as the treadle I02 is released. The end of the ribbon I 09, held by the operator, is

:then drawn out to leave only a short ribbon end Zlacing of the lon e ri bon, th re are provided means fo n a ng its juxt posed ends, which means may comprise a spring clamp I!! extendin iorwardly from he Work table I between Whose sprin members the ribbon ends may h slipped and held, or or a sharp ended pin 1 I mounted vertically upon the forwardly extendingleg II2 of an L shaped bracket .I I3, secured to the work table, upon the point of which the ribbon ends may be pinned.

In order to avoid the necessity of stitching the ends of the ribbon I08 together, an operation now required to prevent disassembly during handling of. the assembled strap prior to attachingit to a garment, which may be a long time after the strap is assembled, I prefer to employ for the above purpose a pin III which is provided with an eye II4 adjacent its free upper .end. A thread H5 is drawn through the eye I14 and bothof its ends permitted to fall. A plurality, such as a dozen of pairs of ends of rib bons .Ifl8.may then be stuck .over the end of the pin I II and the doubled over thread H5. One end of the thread H5 is then pulled out of the ribbon ends, and the'ribbons removed from the pin, remaining strung on the thread which may vthen be tied, for safety.

' In practice, two types of buckles 26, are used,

one with a. prong I I6 projecting from the center bar II'I into eye 21 and one in which the eye 21 isunobstructed. Where a pronged buckle is :used, it engages the ribbon end II8 to prevent i its: slipping .out and avoids the need for stitchbuckles.

ing the :end II8.to its immediatelya'djacmt ribbonfold, as must be done when an unpronged buckle is used. Heretofore, no apparatus was known for assembling straps with pronged In the present invention, however, I have devised apparatus capable of utilizing pronged buckles 2B and have made this possible by providing the blade 93 with a recess I I9, which may be either a slot, or a groove, as shown, extending longitudinally of such blade, which will permit reciprocation of the blade through eye 27, without interference from the prong II6.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In apparatus of the character describecha lower buckle guideway, a spacing member arranged over the forward end of the said lower guideway, a second buckle guideway on the upper surface of the said spacing member, a gravity feed buckle hopper arranged on the lower guideway to the rear of the spacing block and a second gravity feed buckle hopper arranged over the said second guideway on top of the said spacing member.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of spaced apart parallel buckle guideways, buckle moving slides arranged in each of said guideways, means for moving one of said slides and mechanism for interengaging the said having facing grooves slides to move the second of said slides after movement of the first slide has commenced.

3. Inapparatus of the character described, a pair of superposed, parallel, spaced apart buckle guideways, the ,upper of said guideways being of lesser length than the lower guideway, buckle moving slides arranged in each of said guideways, means for movably engaging the lower of said slides to feed a buckle to operative position and mechanism for interengagingthe two slides after movement of the lower slidev has commenced, to move the said upper slide for feeding a second buckle to operative position.

4. In apparatus of the character described, having a lower buckle guideway, a spacing member arranged over the forward end of said lower buckle guideway and a second buckle guideway of lesser length than the said lower guideway over the said spacing member, a plate secured to the forward face of the spacing member, said plate having two pair of parallel, forwardly extending fingers, each pair of forwardly extending fingers having facing grooves forming a buckle guideway, continuous with one of said first named buckle guideways, a gravity feed buckle hopper A arranged over each of said guideways, one to the rear of the other, and means for moving a buckle simultaneously along each of said guideways.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a lower buckle guideway, a spacing member arranged over the forward end of said lower buckle guideway, a second buckle guideway over the said spacing member, a plate secured to the forward face of the spacing member, said plate having two pair of parallel, forwardly extending,

each pair of forwardly extending fingers forming a buckle guideway, continuous with one of said first named buckle guideways, a slotvin each of said fingers fingers,

adjacent the operative position for the buckle and resiliently a mounted member having a seat for one side of a buckle arranged in each of said slots and adapted toreceive the side of a buckle and retain it in operative position.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a

pair of spaced parallel superposed buckle guideways, gravity feed buckle hoppers arranged over each of said guideways to feed buckles thereto, one forwardly of the other, a pair of brackets on the foremost of said brackets having an aperture in alignment with the other, a plunger having a longitudinally disposed slot arranged within the said apertures, a

hoppers, each of said M collar adjustably fixed on the said plunger, intermediate the said brackets, a spring about the said plunger intermediate the said collar and the lower of said brackets, a pin set into one of said brackets, passing through the said slot, to prevent rotation of the plunger within the brackets, and strap engaging blades removably set into the lower end of said plunger.

7. In apparatus of the character described having a gravity feed buckle hopper, a plate arranged within the hopper along one wall thereof, and resilient means arranged adjacent the lower end of said plate for urging the plate'away from said wall to provide a snug outlet for the buckles within the hopper.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a frame having a pair of buckle guideways fixed thereon in spaced apart relation to one another, and a gravity feed buckle hopper arranged above each of said guideways one to the rear of the other to supply buckles to the guideways, buckle holding jaws at the end of each of said guideways, and means for moving a buckle from each of said hoppers simultaneously to its respective buckle holding jaw 9. In apparatus of the character described, a frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel, superposed buckle guideways fixed thereon and a gravity feed buckle hopper arranged above each of said guideways one to the rear of the other to feed buckles thereto, buckle holding jaws at the end of each of said guideways, and means for moving a buckle from each of said hoppers to its respective buckle holding jaw.

10. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, a frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel guideways fixed thereon, one of said guideways being of lesser length than the other and a gravity feed hopper arranged over-each of said guideways, one to the rear of the other to supply buckles to the guideway and means for moving a buckle simultaneously along each of said guideways.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel, superposed buckle guideways fixed thereon, the upper of said guideways being of lesser length than the lower and a gravity feed buckle hopper arranged above each of said guideways to supply buckles thereto and means for moving a buckle simultaneously along each of said guideways.

AARON LENDELSOHN. 

